‘He was already’ – Pep Guardiola makes Mikel Arteta ‘monster’ claim amid Arsenal’s latest form

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has responded to Rio Ferdinand’s claim that he has ‘created a monster’ in Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Arteta used to work as Guardiola’s assistant manager at City but departed the Etihad to take the head coach job at Arsenal in 2019.

After guiding the Gunners to FA Cup glory, his title was changed to manager and he has now built an impressive team of young stars who are top of the Premier League after a strong start to the 2022-23 campaign, winning 11 of 13 games.

They are even ahead of champions City – who are two points behind Arsenal in second and have won four of the last five top-flight titles.

That led to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand claiming that Guardiola has ‘created a monster’ in Arteta, but Guardiola does not see it that way.

‘No, absolutely not!’ Guardiola told BT Sport. ‘He was already! That drive…

‘It’s a perfect definition [of a club backing their manager], do you know why?

‘There was not good results [in the past] I remember [people said] he must be sacked and ‘Arteta out’.

‘I know Mikel, they see him, the sporting director Edu and the club, how he works, how he talks, we saw in the documentary [All or Nothing: Arsenal].

‘We know it. They said, ‘Okay, rely on him, rely on him, it’s a process’ – people believed Mikel would go there and in six months they win the Champions League. He needs time!’

Arsenal travel to Wolves on Saturday in their last Premier League match before the World Cup break, as they attempt to be top of the table at Christmas.

City, meanwhile, host Brentford in their final top-flight game before the action gets underway in Qatar as the domestic season resumes on December 26.

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